Here's How Often You Need To Clean Your Baby's Nibbler

You may or may not be familiar with nibblers, technically known as a mesh feeder. They're a feeding device that looks like part of a lingerie bag got twisted up with a spork and handed to a baby to use as a mango filter. Obviously, they get filthy, so when should you clean your baby's nibbler?

These little nibblers are actually pretty genius — they're designed to allow babies to be introduced to solid foods without the risk of choking, according to the product descriptions on Amazon. Babies can chew on the little mesh bag that is filled with foods like the aforementioned mango, or banana, and as the food breaks down, they are able to swallow the small particles. Last year, at the Santa Rosalia Feast, I saw a dad put a meatball in one of those bags and the baby was immediately blissed out. To that dad, I salute you; I cannot imagine the mess that made.

The cleanup is the most difficult task related to these mesh feeders. The entire piece is BPA-Free plastic and plastic composite according to the Munchkin company website, and they are dishwasher safe. But who wants to do an entire load of dishes for one little object? No one. Ever. But bacteria grows on wet objects like noses grow in Washington, and you don't want to feed your child a dose of calicivirus with their morning snack. (Because then you'd be cleaning more than just a nibbler, and your baby would be so miserable.)

How else can you clean it? The instructions on Amazon say to wash in hot, soapy water and then brush it clean. But when should you wash baby's nibbler? Apparently while they're still eating the avocado or just accept the stains. Honestly, the product description at Amazon doesn't give an exact answer, but it's probably best to wash it after every use. Plus, it's much easier to clean when the food hasn't hardened to concrete inside the mesh. Trust me on this. As long as you clean it often and throw it in the dishwasher when you have a load ready to go, you're probably good. Buy a few extra to swap out while one is being cleaned, and so you can toss the ones that are officially too gross to try and scrub. (Like moldy sippy cups.)